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Goin'6 Florida Family Adventure

Florida Family Adventure
Florida is a family vacation paradise if for no other reason than the multitude and diversity of entertainment options awaiting you. The state's beaches are routinely ranked among the nation's finest. The theme parks attract visitors from every corner of the globe. Its aquariums, parks, and zoos put you face-to-face with exotic wildlife, from Africa's fierce alpha predators to the state's oddly adorable manatees. Whatever type of family vacation interests your clan, you'll find Florida more than ready to oblige.

To help you get a head start on your next Florida family adventure, we've put together a list of crowd-pleasing attractions. We've also made trip planning a bit easier by showing you the Motel 6 locations that'll help you squeeze every nickel out of your travel budget.

Theme Parks
As the undisputed center of the theme-park universe, Orlando is rightfully Florida's #1 tourist destination. Disney alone entertains millions upon millions of area visitors with their Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Disney-Hollywood Studios parks (not to mention Disney World Resort's Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach water parks). It could take an experienced theme-park fanatic a full week to get their fill of the classic rides, enchanting characters and awe-inspiring exhibits that these exceptional Disney properties have to offer. The only problem is that Orlando is also home to quite a few more top-notch theme parks that'll be competing for your affection.

Universal Orlando Resort hosts two separate parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure. The first is a pure amusement park (not a working studio like Universal Studios Hollywood) with an assortment of entertainment-themed rides like Revenge of the Mummy (an indoor roller coaster) and a new Simpson's simulator ride. True to its name, Islands of Adventure is set up as a series of themed islands, each with its own "adventures" in the form of water rides, coasters, simulator rides and more. Then there's Sea World and its adjacent parks. If you've never seen the spectacle that's the Sea World killer whale show, you owe it to yourself to witness these magnificent creatures in action. When you're finished, the park's roller coasters, water rides and animal exhibits will keep the thrills coming. For a truly hands-on (albeit pricey) experience, Discovery Cove lets you take to the water and interact with real dolphins. Look okay in a swim suit? Then you may want to check out Aquatica, the complex's newly opened water park. One look at these towering water slides will either unleash your inner child or send it scurrying for cover. Wet-N-Wild Water Park may not be part of a major resort, but it does provide major thrills to Orlando area visitors.

Outside of Orlando, Busch Gardens in Tampa is the state's other major theme park. It combines first-rate thrill rides with a full-fledged zoo that gives wildlife enthusiasts a great way to spend their day. Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in Winter Haven (midway between Orlando and Tampa) bills itself as "Florida's first theme park" and with its recent makeover, now offers the kind of rides and roller coasters that today's theme park fans demand. Lion Country Safari west of Palm Beach is another great way to get your wildlife fix. The park lets you take a drive-through safari that puts you face-to-face with an assortment of free-roaming African beasts.

Beaches
Florida's stunning beaches draw visitors from around the globe and from all walks of life. Miami's South Beach may be famous for its fashion models and "in crowd" allure, but family vacationers have their pick of excellent beach-going locations as well, from the Panhandle's famed Emerald Coast all the way to the Jacksonville area's popular shoreline communities.

What makes a beach the "best" is always open to interpretation. If you're looking to do more than just dip your feet, the consensus has it that Florida's best surfing beach is Sebastian Inlet, half way between Cape Canaveral and Port St. Lucie on Florida's central Atlantic coast. Perhaps influencing the judges is the fact that Sebastian Inlet is where 8-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater grew up. The other premiere surf spot is Cocoa Beach, home to Ron Jon, the east coast's most popular surf shop.

If by "best" you mean the perfect place for beachcombing or relaxing in a magnificent natural setting, then Caladesi Island State Park just west of Dunedin is the country's reigning "best beach" according to one national authority. You'll have to take a short ferry ride to reach the island, but it's worth the extra effort. Other Florida beaches that made the nation's top 10 list include Fort de Soto North Beach (south of St. Petersburg), St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (near Port St. Joe), St. Andrews State Park (Panama City), Grayton Beach State Park (between Destin and Panama City), and Bahia Honda State Park (in the Florida Keys). Moving away from the Gulf Coast, Little Talbot Island State Park near Jacksonville will give you an up close look at an unspoiled barrier island, the kind that line the north eastern Florida, Georgia and Carolina coasts.

That's not to say a beach has to be secluded to be a great family destination. Dania Beach near Jupiter is a fine example of great little beach that's close to outstanding shopping, dining and entertainment amenities. Ft. Lauderdale, another legendary Florida beach, has reinvented itself from the crazy spring break party destination of the early 80's. Now, this family friendly community is home to attractions like Sawgrass Mills, the country's largest outlet mall. And don't forget Daytona Beach. Before it became NASCAR's greatest venue, the town was known primarily for its inviting beaches.

Natural Wonders
Now that we've covered Florida's beaches, especially the unspoiled stretches of coastline along the Florida Keys and the Panhandle's pristine Emerald Coast, you might think the rest of the state would be a bit of a let down for nature lovers. Nothing could be further from the truth.

For starters, you've got Everglades National Park. This incredibly complex and fascinating ecosystem is wilderness with a double helping of "wild". The Everglades is fed by a system of slow moving rivers that create the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. As such, the region supports a fascinating range of wildlife, including American crocodiles, West Indian Manatees, and the elusive Florida Panther. Just outside the Park, lies Big Cypress National Preserve, where you can add dry prairies and mangrove forests to the signature cypress trees that dominate this 2,400 square mile swamp.

Staying in the southern end of the state, Biscayne National Park (east of Homestead) is home to the first of the Florida Keys as they begin their foray into the Caribbean. It's a popular destination for kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving. As you move northward, the dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee (the country's second largest freshwater lake) forms part of the Florida Trail, a National Scenic Trail that winds 1,400 miles from the Big Cypress National Preserve to Pensacola's Gulf Island's National Seashore.

Not to be outdone by the spectacular federal wildlife areas, Florida's state park system delivers some amazing sights. Myakka River State Park near Sarasota promises huge gators and one of the world's largest airboats. If it's manatees you're looking for, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and Crystal River State Park (both north of Tampa) are two of the best locations for year-round interaction with these gentle creatures. If you like your wildlife encounters a bit more harrowing, Gatorland (in Orlando) bills itself as the "The Alligator Capital of the World", but it's only one of the state's many gator-themed tourist attractions.

Other Florida Attractions
Just north of beautiful Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral is home to the Kennedy Space Center's impressive Visitors Complex. Here, you and the entire family will grow in your appreciation of the men, the women and the machines that have made space exploration possible and have powered mankind to new heights of understanding. For a truly special experience, there's nothing quite like observing a shuttle liftoff. It's a tricky exercise given the infrequency of launches and the role weather can play, but the reward is worth the effort.

For some visitors to Florida, a trip to Daytona International Speedway is a spiritual experience. The biggest draws are the NASCAR Nextel Cup races. February's Daytona 500 is NASCAR's marquee event, but the Speedway also hosts a 400-mile Saturday night Nextel Cup race in early July that packs them in. Of course, the track hosts other major events like the 24 Hours of Daytona race, so check the schedule in advance to see if you can catch an event. If not, the Daytona 500 Experience is open year �round. This interactive fan favorite includes tours, exhibits and ride simulators that'll make you feel like part of the racing action.

St. Augustine (south of Jacksonville) is a must-see Florida destination for anyone who loves their history. As the oldest continuously settled city established by Europeans in the continental United States, St. Augustine was constantly at the center of an Imperial tug-of-war that saw the city sacked by Sir Francis Drake, plundered by pirates, and besieged by the British. It's also where Ponce De Leon landed in his search for the mythical Fountain of Youth. Through it all, the town has bounced back with historic charm. Today, St Augustine is also the site of the World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Baseball is another important part of Florida's tourism economy. Each year, the Grapefruit League sees more than half of the big league clubs and many of their fans descend upon the state for spring training. Compared to the regular season, prices are low and fans can get an up close look at their favorite stars in a much more intimate ballpark setting. Keep in mind, the talent pool is diluted by all the minor leaguers vying to make it to the Bigs and the season only lasts for the two months leading up to opening day.